Two winners emerged from the Mito Natto Speed-Eating World Championship held Monday in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture [1, 2].
The event serves as a national promotional tool for the region's famous natto, a traditional fermented soybean dish. Organizers established the competition in 2001 to increase the visibility of the local specialty [1, 3].
In the male category, a participant identified as Ito finished 350 grams of natto in 58 seconds [1]. In the female category, Nakamura completed 210 grams in 62 seconds [1]. Other reports on the event cited a winning time of 43 seconds [2].
Between 111 [1] and 132 [2] participants from across Japan competed in the race. Some reports describe the venue as the lakeside of Senba Lake in Mito [2].
While some sources identify this as the 20th edition of the tournament [2], other records list it as the 22nd [1].
Ito expressed his surprise and joy following the victory. "I didn't have much confidence, but I love natto, so I am really happy to win on this occasion," Ito said [1]. He added that he was "extremely happy" [1].
“"I love natto, so I am really happy to win on this occasion,"”
The persistence of the Mito Natto Speed-Eating World Championship since 2001 reflects the role of niche food competitions in Japanese regional branding. By turning a local staple into a competitive spectacle, Mito City leverages 'food tourism' to maintain the cultural and economic relevance of its natto industry in a modern market.
